Man hole form of adjustable sections



July 14, 1931-. A. J. PENOTE MAN HOLE FORM OF ADJUSTABLE SECTIONS FiledNov. 14, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 171/505 7'05 I PE/VUTE July 14, 1931. A.J. PENOTE 131433 MAN HOLE FORM OF ADJUSTABLE SECTIONS Filed Nov. 14,1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 3 awvznl oq;

nus 051-05 .7- PEA/UTE Patented July 14, 1931 UNHTE r FFMIE AUGUSTUS J.PENOTE, OF SHAKER HEIGHTS, QI-IIO MAN HOLE FORM OF ADJUSTABLE SECTIONSApplication filed November 14, 1928..

This invention relates to man-hole forms used in construction work, andsuch as I' prefer to use as forms polyhedral in outline especially inman-hole Construction of concrete or other suitable cement materialintended to be moulded about the form, ordinarily external of thelatter.

These forms are usually rectangular in outline and are used to makeman-holes of that outline, and my present invention is a furtherimprovement on my former Patent No. 1,632,8 l6,granted me 'J une 21,1927. It is further like that patented structure in that this form is tobe built in adjustable sections, so that the latter may be adjusted forconstructing man holes of different lengths, Widths and depths, inaddition to possessing ease of withdrawal of the sections from theinterior of the man-hole after the latter has been-formed and even afterthe cementis set. All advantages claimed for my former. patentedconstruction are gained in the present improved structure now to bedescribed.

My prior patented sectional form contemplated a series of sectionshaving iii-turned flanges intended to be brought into contiguousrelation when the sections are set up, and with a removable thin plateapplied between the flanges of separate sections, the number of sectionsin a given wall, determining the siz of the latter. In my presentimproved structure, the several sections are each adjustable in size, sothat the same number of sections may be used to form a man-hole ofvarying size by adjusting the size of the individual sections.

A still further object is attained by this improved sectional form, inthat a horizontal and flat top cover for the man-hole form nowcontemplated, is itself made up of detachable sections, some or all ofwhich may be adjustable in much the same manner that the side and endwalls are. From this improved structure, it will be apparent that whenthe form is set up, including the application of the cover thereto, theentire form may be covered with the cement, both about the side and endwalls and upon the said cover sections, until the entire cement SerialNo. 319,196.

form has set, after which the several form sections may be withdrawnfrom the inside of the form, as will be described in detail hereinafter.

lVith these and other objects'in "iew later to beset forth with moreparticularity, my invention consists in the described structure setforthin the appended claims and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in.

which Figure 1 IS a perspective view with a corner broken away, of aman-hole form of three courses and showing a portion of the cover,embodying my invention;

Figure 2 is a perspective view of a single adjustable section with acorner broken away;

Figure 3 is a perspective view of an L-shaped corner section of integralmaterial;

Figure 4 is an inner view in perspective of a roof section shownextended in adjustment;

Figure 5 is a perspective view of a sectional and fiat form cover openedlongitudi= nally;

Figure 6is a similar view with sections opened laterally andlongitudinally, and

Figure 7 is an inverted perspective showing parts expanded.

My improved adjustable sectional form may be constructed in a pluralityof vertical courses of substantially uniform size and character intendedto be assembled one above another and connected together; and the formhere illustrated represents three such courses A, B and C, respectively.Each of these courses is made up of rectangular adjustable sections fourin number designated by numeral 10, and each said section comprisin thinmetal end plates 11 having flanges 12 on each of its sides and amendlange 13, all said flanges being inclined at right angles to the mainplate. Each section further includes an intermediate plate i l havingiii-turned side flanges similar to the side flanges of the'end plates,but designed to be slidably mounted therein, so that the end plates maybe adjusted upon the intermediate plate and toward and from each other.

The several flanges of the telescoping plates of a section are providedwith suitable apertures 15 adapted to receive suitable fastening boltsor screws in the apertures as the latter are brought into register atdifferent points of adjustment. The plates of the section are shownextended in Fig. 2, but the fastenings have not yet been applied.

Each of the courses includes not only the four or more adjustablesections before described, but also connecting corner sections or plates16 each comprising a smooth main plate 17 and a shorter plate 18integral therewith but at right angles thereto, the ends of the main andshorter plates having right angled flanges adapted to be attached to theflanges 13 of the adjustable sections 10.

These corner sections 16 have a general .L-shape, whereby the shorterplate may be secured to ,end sections 10, while the main plate will besecured to a section 10 of the side wall of the form. In addition tothese end flanges, side flanges 20 of Corresponding L-shape are alsoprovided for locking to other L-sections of other courses. By thisconstruction, corner sections 16 of uniierm size may be used inconjunction with adjustable sections 10 to build up forms of varyinglength or width. Various apertures 15 are provided in both the side andend flanges of all the sections to secure the several sections togetherin any number of courses and using sections variously extended orclosed. These flanges will not however, be strictly in cross section butwill be at least 40 less than 90 and thereby the flanges of adjoiningsections will not be strictly parallel, but the flanges will be slightlyseparated at their outer edges which results in a very eiifectivetightening of the flanges by the short bolts passing through theapertures 15.

Between the several sections of a course, thin metal plates 21 areinserted if desired, and suitable adjustable cross braces 22 are alsoprovided for strengthening the form when set up, these two parts beingattached to the sections in the same manner as shown in my former patentabove referred to.

Dilliculty has sometimes been experienced in providing a suitable coverfor a man-hole form, especially one that would have sufficient strengthto bear the weight imposed upon it adjacent the four vertical walls ofthe form and should yet have a suitable opening near its center throughwhich various tools and materials might be passed, and would still havethe further advantage of being removable from the main part of the formafter the cement had set. Such a mechanism I believe I have nowprovided, and one which is made up of detachable sections which areadjustable in size to correspond with the varying size of the .vert-icalwalls upon which they are to be supported. Such construction isespecially shown in Figs. 4i, 5, 6 and 7.

Tie flat cover is built up of two kinds oi": adjustable sections, theends 23 being made up of sections 2% which will be of the same generalcharacter as the sections 10 01 the vertical walls, except that the endflanges 25 will be bent somewhat oblique to the end plates 26 as will beone of the side flanges 27, so that when the cover sections areconnected together, and the horizontal cover fully assembled, the outerflange will form an acute angle with the vertical walls. This conditionwill permit more readily the withdrawal of the horizontal cover sectionsfrom the finished man.- hole construction. The end plates 26 areadjusted upon the main plate of the section and secured thereto inadjusted position by suitable bolts or screws or pins passed through theregistering apertures 15 in the side flanges. In many cases, two or moreof such cover sections 2% may be secured together laterally by boltingthe flanges of the two sections together, as shown cleary in Fig. 7, theattached pair extending the full width of the cover. More than two suchcover sections 24 may be combined in this way.

The rectangular opening 28 of the cover has its ends bounded by the endsections 24 as above described. The sides of this opening are however,bounded by adjustable sections 29 each of which comprises two flangedplates 30 connected in over-lapping relation as shown clearly in Fig. 7,and indicated in extended position in Figs. 5 and 6. These horizontalplates 30 are superposed in somewhat telescopic relation and their outerends are provided with flanges having apertures 15 that may registerwith similar apertures in the side flanges of the sections 2%, therebyconnecting together the sides and ends of the flat cover.

A further manner of holding the parts or the horizontal cover in acommon plane consists in providing certain of the plates 30 and 2% attheir edges adjacent the corners of the opening 28 with over-lappingblocks or plates 81 which are secured to the outer surface of one suchplate and designed to loo ely overlap the surface of the adjacent plate,as shown in Figs. 5 and 6. Usually these blocks 31 will be spot weldedto one of the plates for a part of its length and loosely extended overthe other plate. If desired, the block may be cut out to form shoulder,as at the point 32 to engage the upper edge of the adjacent plate. Thesections 29 may be obviously extended or closed to lengthen the cover,just as are the sections 10 of the wall.

In operation, the first or lower course A is laid in the earth cavityprovided for the purpose by positioning the side and end sections 10independently with the proper corner section 17 between, as shown inFig. 1. The-sections 10 are extended into proper position adjacent theends of the corner sections and attached thereto, as well as secured inadjustment by suitable bolts 33 to lock the parts together.

Divider plates 21 are then forced into position at all the jointsbetween sections of the course. Then, the sections of the braces 22 areadjusted to the desired length, and their ends secured by proper boltsto the suitable sections of the side walls. The parts of the othercourses are then, lowered down into the cavity within the first courseand the various sections extended as needed to provide a form of thedesired size, all its sections attached together and to the firstcourse, after which the other courses to be made use of are superposedupon the sec- 0nd, and so on, successively. As many courses may be usedas needed to attain the desired height of the completed form, and then aflat horizontal cover of the character heretofore described is appliedover the wall of the form as described in detail above. The end sections24 are first applied in proper position after which the extendedsections 29are applied at the sides between the ends of the plates 26,and the entire sectional cover attached together, but leaving theopening 28 in the center as before explained.

It is to be understood that the bolts 33 shown in Fig. 1, are intendedto be used wherever flanges of any section or part of the structure isto be secured together by lock bolts passing through apertures 15 asshown in the sections to be locked together. Other conventional lockingmembers such as screw bolts may also be used for such purpose and arecontemplated, the particular lock elements to be used are not shown indetail and are not claimed.

In dismantling the structure (form), the bolts 33 are removed in properorder to release the sections of the braces 22 from each other and fromthe wall sections, after which the divider plates 21 are removed,loosening the adjustable sections 10 from the ends of the cornersections 17 thereby permitting the removal of the separated partsthrough the opening 28.

After the removal of the divider plates 21, the sections 10 and 17 ofthe upper course will ordinarily be removed first, although the sectionsof the top cover may be removed first insome instances by the closing inof the sections 30 of the side members after the bolts of these sectionshave been removed inwardly. After the removal of the sections of thecover and top course members, there will, of course, be no diificulty inremoving the parts of the first two courses of the walls, or inwithdrawing them out through the opening 28 of the form. In some cases,it may be found advisable to make use of the metallic sockets shown anddescribed in my former Patent No. 1,632,846 for embedding permanently inthe cement wall and thereby temporarily securing the form sections tothe cement wall, but this is not regarded as wholly indispensable,

though practicable.

Whilethe structure described and shown in this application, make plainthe use of adjustable sections in both the side and end sections of thevertical walls of the form, as well as in the construction of the coversections, it is to be understoodthat certain of these sections may beused in adjusted form or in one course or more, without so using in thecover sections, and such selective use of the adjusted sizes of formmembers is contemplated. So also can the braces 22 be used or omittedwithout varying the manner or use of the other structure.

t is also evident that when a plurality of courses are used in thevertical walls, they i need not be ofthe sameheight, though they are soshown in thisapplication. Further, in dismantling the sectional coverinwardly, the removal of the lock, bolts from the flanges of thesections, make possible closing of the parts of the sections so that thelatter may be drawn from the top ends of the vertical walls andthereafter drawn outward thru the opening 28, as in other sections.

WVhile it is evident that the size of the completed form may be variedin multiples of the intermediate sections 10, both as explained in myformer Patent No. 1,632,846, and by varying the sizes of the sectionsthemselves, it is clear that all of the advantages enumerated in theformer patent are attained in the present construction, but in mypresent improved form, the adjustment of the side walls and of thesectional cover may be slight or of greater amount, as may be founddesirable. Thus the length or width of the intermediate sections 10 maybe advantageously adjusted without multiplying the number of sections ina given course.

It is evident that changes maybe made inthe details of my construction,such variations and modifications that fall well within the spirit andscope of the disclosed invention are intended to be covered in theappended claims, and I do not wish to be limited to the precise detailsof construction set forth.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent is 1. In a form for molding concrete construction,vertical wall members and an adjustable substantially flat cover memberfor resting upon said vertical members and comprising cross end memberseach having I each having longitudinally adjustable end plates havingside flanges and an intermediate plate upon which the end plates areslidably adjustable, and longitudinally ad justable side members spacingthe said ,end members, the side members being themselves spacedlaterally apart to provide an opening in the central portion of saidcover, and connecting blocks overlapping the side and end members, beingfixedly secured to one of the same and detachably applied to the other.

3. In a form for molding concrete construction, vertical Wall membersand an adjustablecover member for resting upon said vertical 'membersandcomprising cross end members, each having overlapping plates which areslidably adjustable to vary its length, each .of said cross end memberscomprising a plurality of longitudinally adjustable, flanged sectionsadapted to be fastened together side by side by means of locking boltsinserted in a series of spaced apertures in contiguous flanges of thesaid sections, and adjustable side members for said cover, each beinglongitudinally adjustable by overlapping plates contacting the sides ofthe said ,end members, the ends of the side members having over-lappingmeans .fOl detachable connection Withthe said end members, the sidemembers being themsel es spaced laterally apart to provide .a centralopening in the said cover.'

l. In va form for molding concrete construction, vertical Wall membersand an adjnstable cover member for resting upon said vertical membersand comprising cross end members each having slida'bly adjustableover-lapping plates, and adjustable side members each beinglongitudinally adjustable by comprising over-lapping flanged plates,whose ends contact the sides of the said end members, the outer etlgesof the entire cover member having downwardly bent flanges contacting thesaid wall members, and the side members being themselves spacedlaterally apart to provide an opening in the central portion of saidcover.

5. In a form tor molding concrete .construction, vertical wall memberseach com prising a plurality of superposed courses, each course of theentire form comprising 4 n 4., was

fee icounte m c r e seqtior an i01 wunte pe n e m iate se t s, e h itermediate section being longitudinally adjustable and ghai' sideflanges integral h r w h, and an Jumb cover memb for resting uponvertical members and comprising cross end members, each havingover-lapping plates which are slidab'ly adjustable to vary its lengthand comprising a plurality of longitudinally adjustable, flangedsections adapted to be fastened together side by side .by means oflocking bolts inserted in a series of spaced apertures in contiguousflanges of the said sec- .tions, and adjustable side members for saidcover each being longitudinally adjustable by the provision ofover-lapping plates hose ends contact the sides of the said end membersand having over-lapping means for detachable connection with the saidend members, vthe side members being themselves spaced laterally apartto provide a central opening in the said cover.

'6. In a form for molding concrete construction, a substantially flatand adjust able cover member comprising cross end mom ers each havingslid ably adjustable over-lapping plates provided with downwardly bentside flanges, and spaced apart side members each being longitudinally adjustable and provided with both "side and end flanges, the end flangesof the side members and the side flanges of the end members beingdetachably connected by the provision of spaced apertures therein forreceiving lock bolts therein, the spaced side members and end membersproviding a rectangular central opening in the said cover, and theadjustability of the several cover members adapting the cover to hollowforms of varying size.

In witness whereof I have hereunto affixed my hand this 1st day ofNovember,

AUGUST-US J. PENOTE.

